Returning to Nature: A Guide to Green Funeral Options
A green (natural) burial returns the body to the earth with as little environmental impact as possible: no toxic embalming, no concrete vault or liner, and a biodegradable casket or shroud. The Green Burial Council, which certifies providers in North America, adds that green cemeteries avoid pesticides and herbicides and manage their land sustainably. Because it skips embalming and a vault, a green burial can also avoid two of the larger items on a funeral bill.
What makes a burial "green"?
- No toxic embalming. The body is kept cool by refrigeration or dry ice until burial, or prepared without toxic chemicals.
- No vault or grave liner. The container goes directly into the soil.
- A biodegradable container: a plain wooden or wicker casket, a cardboard container, or a cloth shroud.
- Gentle land care: no herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers; some sites use GPS coordinates or native stones instead of conventional headstones.
What kinds of green cemeteries are there?
The Green Burial Council certifies three kinds of burial grounds:
| Type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Hybrid cemetery | A conventional cemetery that offers green burial throughout or in a section. It does not require a vault and must allow eco-friendly containers, including shrouds. |
| Natural burial ground | A cemetery devoted entirely to sustainable practice. Toxic chemicals, any part of a vault, non-native stone markers and non-natural containers are not allowed. |
| Conservation burial ground | A natural burial ground run with a conservation organization, with a management plan and permanent land protection through a conservation easement or deed restriction. |
Is embalming or a vault ever required?
Usually not. The FTC notes that most states do not require embalming for every death; some require embalming or refrigeration only after a certain time, and direct cremation and immediate burial do not require it at all. A funeral home may not tell you embalming is legally required when it is not. Vaults and grave liners are generally a cemetery's rule, not a state law, so the cemetery you choose decides whether one is needed — which is why green and hybrid cemeteries waive them.
Does a green burial cost less?
It often does, because of what it leaves out. In the National Funeral Directors Association's 2023 General Price List Study, the national medians for items a green burial typically skips were:
- Embalming: $845
- Burial vault: $1,695
- Metal burial casket: $2,500 (a shroud or simple biodegradable container usually costs less)
Plot prices at natural and conservation burial grounds vary widely, and some include a contribution to land protection, so compare the full price from the cemetery and the funeral home. Under the FTC Funeral Rule you can supply your own casket or shroud bought elsewhere, and the funeral home must accept it without a handling fee.
Other lower-impact options
- Cremation uses less land than burial, though it uses fuel; ashes can be buried in a natural setting or scattered (see our cremation guide for the rules).
- Alkaline hydrolysis ("water cremation") and natural organic reduction ("human composting") are legal only in some states; ask local funeral homes whether either is available where you live.
- Burial at sea is permitted under an EPA general permit, with conditions on depth and distance from shore.
How to arrange a green burial
- Find a certified hybrid, natural or conservation burial ground near you through the Green Burial Council.
- Ask the cemetery what it requires (container types, markers, depth, timing) and get its price list.
- Ask funeral homes whether they offer green burial without embalming, and request their General Price List — the FTC requires them to give you one.
- Write your wishes down and share them with family, so they are not left to guess. Our pre-planning guide explains how.
The AI Planning Assistant can walk you through these questions and help you list green-friendly funeral homes nearby.
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People Also Ask
What is a green burial?
A green or natural burial uses no toxic embalming, no vault or grave liner, and a biodegradable casket or shroud, in a cemetery that manages its land sustainably. The Green Burial Council certifies hybrid, natural and conservation burial grounds.
Is embalming required by law?
Usually not. According to the FTC, most states do not require embalming for every death; some require embalming or refrigeration only after a set time, and direct cremation and immediate burial do not require it.
Do I need a burial vault?
Vaults are generally required by individual cemeteries, not by state law. Green and hybrid cemeteries certified by the Green Burial Council do not require them.
Is green burial cheaper?
Often, because it skips embalming (NFDA 2023 median $845), a vault (median $1,695) and a metal casket (median $2,500). Plot prices at natural burial grounds vary, so compare full price lists.